We just received word from the Missouri Department of Higher Education that all 2021 Graduates will NOT have to meet the Algebra 1 EOC or ACT equivalent requirement in order to receive the A+ scholarship. To receive the scholarship, you must have 95% attendance, 2.5 GPA or higher, have your 50 hours of tutoring logged and submitted (25 hours for 2021 Graduates), and have no drug or alcohol offenses. If you have met those requirements, you are eligible for the A+ scholarship. 

The official statement regarding the EOC Requirement from the Missouri Department of Higher Education is available here: 

A+ Algebra I End of Course Exam Requirement for 2021 Seniors

Even if you are planning on attending a 4-year college, you can still take advantage of A+ by taking OTC summer classes for FREE if you are eligible for the A+ scholarship.  The details for OTC summer enrollment are below: 

OTC Summer A+ Scholarship FAQ’s

If I am seeking a certificate or degree at OTC, can I use A+ for the summer semester?

Yes. If you are eligible for A+ and wish to enroll for the summer semester, be sure to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours.

If it is my first summer after high school graduation, can I use A+ for the summer semester?

Yes! The Missouri Department of Higher Education allows you to use A+ program benefits at a community college your first summer after high school graduation, even if you plan to transfer to a four-year college or university in the fall. Just be sure to complete the steps outlined below.

If I am seeking a certificate or degree at OTC, can I use A+ for the summer semester?

Yes. If you are eligible for A+ and wish to enroll for the summer semester, be sure to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours.

If I am attending another college, can I come back and use A+ for the summer at OTC?

The answer to your question, visiting students are not eligible. Here is why…

The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) permits a student to use A+ Program benefits at a community college his or her first summer after high school graduation, even if he or she plans to transfer to a four year college or university in the fall.

Visiting students to OTC or students enrolled at 4-year colleges and universities during the prior fall or spring semesters of the current school year are not eligible to use A+ funding during the summer semester.  This is due to the fact a student must be degree seeking at the institution where A+ is utilized.  If your intent is to transfer your summer credits back to a four-year college for the fall semester, you are degree seeking there, not OTC; therefore, you would not be eligible.

If you are attending OTC during your first summer after high school graduation, or if you are pursuing a certificate or degree at OTC, and you meet the requirements of A+, you must complete the following steps:

1. Apply for admission to OTC at http://www.otc.edu (Links to an external site.) (New HS graduates will need to register as a First-Time Freshman)
2. Select a program of study (Visiting students are not eligible)
3. Enroll in a minimum of six (6) credit hours
4. Have your Final Official High School A+ stamped transcript sent to our Admissions Office (after graduation)
5. You must have a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with OTC

• To complete a 2020-2021 FAFSA go to http://www.fafsa.gov (Links to an external site.); Federal School Code is 030830
• If you have already completed a FAFSA for classes beginning this fall, you MUST go back and complete the 2020-2021 FAFSA for the summer semester
• This is because the summer semester is the tail end of the 2020-2021 academic year
• The last possible day you may submit the 2020-2021 FAFSA is June 30, 2021

The Missouri Department of Higher Education has determined that the required completed tutoring hours for 2021 Graduates will be reduced from 50 to 25, due to the continued effects of COVID-19.

The official updates to the A+ Scholarship for 2021 High School Graduates, including the tutoring hours accommodation, may be viewed here: 

A+ Scholarship COVID-19 Accommodations for the 2020-2021 Academic Year

The following link to the Missouri Department of Higher Education informs 2020 high school graduates of important updates to the A+ Scholarship in response to COVID-19

MDHEWD issues guidance regarding A+ Scholarship eligibility amid COVID-19